diff --git a/lib/components/form/error-message.js b/lib/components/form/error-message.js
index 9a9cb8cf1..31f3122b8 100644
--- a/lib/components/form/error-message.js
+++ b/lib/components/form/error-message.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
 import { connect } from 'react-redux'
 import TripTools from '../narrative/trip-tools'
 
-import { getActiveErrors } from '../../util/state'
+import { getActiveError } from '../../util/state'
 
 class ErrorMessage extends Component {
   static propTypes = {
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class ErrorMessage extends Component {
 
 const mapStateToProps = (state, ownProps) => {
   return {
-    error: getActiveErrors(state.otp)[0],
+    error: getActiveError(state.otp),
     currentQuery: state.otp.currentQuery,
     errorMessages: state.otp.config.errorMessages
   }
diff --git a/lib/components/mobile/results-screen.js b/lib/components/mobile/results-screen.js
index c5b8448d5..1da52d089 100644
--- a/lib/components/mobile/results-screen.js
+++ b/lib/components/mobile/results-screen.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { MobileScreens, setMobileScreen } from '../../actions/ui'
 import { setUseRealtimeResponse } from '../../actions/narrative'
 import { clearActiveSearch } from '../../actions/form'
 import {
-  getActiveErrors,
+  getActiveError,
   getActiveItineraries,
   getActiveSearch,
   getRealtimeEffects
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ const mapStateToProps = (state, ownProps) => {
   return {
     query: state.otp.currentQuery,
     realtimeEffects,
-    error: getActiveErrors(state.otp)[0],
+    error: getActiveError(state.otp),
     resultCount:
       response
         ? activeSearch.query.routingType === 'ITINERARY'
diff --git a/lib/components/narrative/narrative-itineraries.js b/lib/components/narrative/narrative-itineraries.js
index 76a450dfe..93b245fa6 100644
--- a/lib/components/narrative/narrative-itineraries.js
+++ b/lib/components/narrative/narrative-itineraries.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import DefaultItinerary from './default/default-itinerary'
 import Icon from '../narrative/icon'
 import LinkButton from '../user/link-button'
 import {
-  getActiveErrors,
+  getResponsesWithErrors,
   getActiveItineraries,
   getActiveSearch,
   getRealtimeEffects
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ const mapStateToProps = (state, ownProps) => {
   const useRealtime = state.otp.useRealtime
   return {
     activeSearch,
-    errors: getActiveErrors(state.otp),
+    errors: getResponsesWithErrors(state.otp),
     // swap out realtime itineraries with non-realtime depending on boolean
     itineraries,
     pending,
diff --git a/lib/components/narrative/narrative-routing-results.js b/lib/components/narrative/narrative-routing-results.js
index 294080dfd..12f9f5fb3 100644
--- a/lib/components/narrative/narrative-routing-results.js
+++ b/lib/components/narrative/narrative-routing-results.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import TabbedItineraries from './tabbed-itineraries'
 import ErrorMessage from '../form/error-message'
 
 import {
-  getActiveErrors,
+  getActiveError,
   getActiveItineraries,
   getActiveSearch
 } from '../../util/state'
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ const mapStateToProps = (state, ownProps) => {
   const pending = activeSearch ? Boolean(activeSearch.pending) : false
   return {
     mainPanelContent: state.otp.ui.mainPanelContent,
-    error: getActiveErrors(state.otp)[0],
+    error: getActiveError(state.otp),
     itineraries: getActiveItineraries(state.otp),
     pending,
     routingType: activeSearch && activeSearch.query.routingType
diff --git a/lib/util/state.js b/lib/util/state.js
index 72dfa3114..a3459b805 100644
--- a/lib/util/state.js
+++ b/lib/util/state.js
@@ -25,20 +25,32 @@ export function getTimestamp (time = moment()) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Gets the active errors returned for the OTP responses.
+ * Gets the OTP responses that contain errors. For batch routing this could be
+ * an array of multiple responses, but for standard itinerary routing it will be
+ * at most an array with one response.
  * @param {Object} otpState the OTP state object
- * @return {Array}      array of OTP plan responses with errors
+ * @return {Array}      array of OTP plan responses that contain errors
  */
-export function getActiveErrors (otpState) {
+export function getResponsesWithErrors (otpState) {
   const search = getActiveSearch(otpState)
-  const errors = []
+  const errorResponses = []
   const response = !search ? null : search.response
   if (response) {
     response.forEach(res => {
-      if (res && res.error) errors.push(res)
+      if (res && res.error) errorResponses.push(res)
     })
   }
-  return errors
+  return errorResponses
+}
+
+/**
+ * Gets the active error (first OTP plan response that contains an error). Only
+ * one OTP response is expected in itinerary routing, but if batch routing is
+ * enabled, multiple responses with errors should be handled.
+ */
+export function getActiveError (otpState) {
+  const errorResponse = getResponsesWithErrors(otpState)[0]
+  if (errorResponse && errorResponse.error) return errorResponse.error
 }
 
 /**